Squealing Noise

Not sure the 348 looks the same but could it be related to the problem Mr Dobermann described in this thread?

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=234071&page=4

 

The AC compressor wheel still turns if the AC is turned off... There is a solenoid switch which engages a clutch in there.

Have a look at the belt that drives your alternator. It is tightened by a tensioner that has a removable bearing. (it is on the opposite side of the engine than where the AC compressor is). Sometimes the bearing rusts and seizes resulting in a belt squeal as it still spins by it. I hat to take mine out, replace the bearing and put it back on after locktiting the tensioner to the bearing as there was excessive play). If the tensioner is too loose and the bearing stiff, you will also get a squeal...

Marco

 

I would STRONGLY recommend that you do not start the engine again, not even once, until you do some checking on this. If the noise is coming from a timing belt tensioner, or from a siezed water pump, then it could be a matter of seconds until your timing belt jumps or breaks, and you'll have a handful of bent valves to deal with.

 

The problem is, just how much can you do without starting the car? Finding the source of a squeal without starting the car to me seems as tough to track down as a $billion$ in TARP money given to a bank...

I ask because I had a squeal over the winter and had the same thought...anyway I let it run, tried to see where it was coming from and then was gone...

 

Good question. At the very least, I would jack the car up, remove the lower sheet metal panel, and check for any obvious signs that the alternator belt or A/C belt are significantly loose, then tighten or replace them as needed. If neither belt appears to be loose, I would pull both off and check for free rotation of the pulleys on each. You could then start the engine with the belts off, and if it still squeels, shut if off IMMEDIATELY and make plans to have the engine pulled.

I hope you don't have to pull the engine (water pump, belt tensioner), but things will get a lot worse really fast if the timing belt goes from noisy to busted.

 

+1

You can run the car for a couple of minutes using only the power stored in the battery. What you are doing is trying to eliminate the accessory belts as the problem, or the tensioner bearing for the alternator. If after you have removed the a/c & alternator belts and the car still squeals, as Jeff said, IMMEDIATELY shut the car off, I M M E D I A T E L Y ! ! ! Squealing with no accessory belts = bad water pump, tensioner, or idler bearing/s, and that can = destruction of your engine.

 

Great advice given already.

Check for loose belts first. If they seem ok, then drop them off one at a time starting the car to listen for the noise. If the noise is STILL there after both belts have been removed..........then you have nasty problem on your hands.

But hopefully it is just a loose/worn belt.

 

One idea that popped into my head. There are caps on the front of the engine that serve as covers for the top of the timing belt, one on each head. Now, these caps aren't much use for inspecting the teeth on the belt, but they would be useful for inspecting the condition of the backside of the belt. And if your squeel is coming from a problem with the water pump or the tensioner, there would likely be signs of friction on the backside of the belt. It isn't real easy to remove the caps, you have to crawl on top of the engine to reach the bolts, but it might be worth a look to help confirm what's wrong.

 

Great to hear it was an easy fix!

 

Good news, Aaron. Hope you have many miles of trouble free motoring!